"Stevan is working well with us," Pellegrini said. "He is a very important player for our team. Maybe there are a lot of rumours about his future but Stevan will stay with us.

"Stevan had a very bad luck last year, he had a lot of injuries the whole year, so it's very difficult for a player to have an important performance when he cannot play three games in a row.

"In this year he starts the pre-season - well he finished last as well - playing well and now he works continually every day he will demonstrate why he's here in Manchester City because he's a very good player."

His contribution to City's emphatic win will have encouraged Pellegrini and City fans alike as his neat finish put them ahead after 12 minutes.

Further goals from Jesus Navas, Kelechi Iheanacho and forgotten man Scott Sinclair effectively ended the game as a contest after 20 minutes before Sulley Muntari scored Milan's consolation before the break.

Yet City, who were without the quartet of Joe Hart, David Silva, Yaya Toure and James Milner, completed the rout on 58 minutes as Jovetic smartly converted Aleksandar Kolarov's cross.